I Forbid the Banns! — page 277: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ON THE HABITS OF AQUATIC FOWL. 267 their hostess was waiting—anxiously waiting, it must be confessed—to say good-by to her friends. Lady Rushton held her head at such an elevation as enabled her to see more of the surrounding foliage of the trees than of the groups on the lawn. ‘I think,’’ said Charlton, ‘‘that is our machine coming up the drive. My dear, Lady Ashenthorpe is waiting on the terrace steps.’’ : “You have a drive of six miles to the Court, have you not, Charlton?’’ said Lord Ashenthorpe. ‘‘Quite six miles. J am not so sure about the rain keep- ing off for another hour,”’ said Charlton. ‘The only wonder is that it has not been raining all the afternoon,’’ said the host. ‘‘Well, we will not say good- by, only az revotr.”’ ’*That would please me very much more,’’ said Bertha. ‘‘T have not spent a pirasstn ter afternoon since I came to muloneland so , ‘Your missionary efforts bring their own reward, Mrs. Charlton,’’ said Sir Ecroyd. ‘‘But pray remember what I said about the perils of my lapsing into the Fantee once more. I have no confidence in myself.’’ ‘“‘T shall use every effort to avert such a disaster, Bertha. ‘My wife will call upon you, if you do not carry out your threat of going to town,’’ said Lord Ashenthorpe. ‘It will be very good of Lady Ashenthorpe,’’ said Charlton. To return ez amateur the professional smiles of their hostess occupied only a few minutes. Then Bertha and Julian were driving rapidly down the avenue. ‘‘She is distinctly the most beautiful creature I have ever seen,’ said Sir Ecroyd. ‘‘If I had met her twenty years ago, I would have asked her to be my wife.’ Lord Ashenthorpe laughed sagely. bi] cried EOMICELOOlKS EC)